Big Surprise

Life is full of surprises, and will surprise you when you least expect it.  Most of us love good surprises, and the best are those that are totally unexpected.  This week started with an exciting, fun, unexpected, big surprise.  "The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us."   Ashley Montagu

Saturday 10/24 - It was a foggy morning due to a big drop in temperature and rain overnight.  We didn’t even hang around long enough to watch the fog lift but were on the road to Nashville shortly after 8:00.  Patty was going to come with us, but woke up feeling bad.  She was pretty sure it was just allergies, but didn't want to take any chances.


The fog and colors made a pretty scene down back.

We took Maggie with us, and as usual, she was not a fan of the car ride there.  I had been giving her natural, calming medication, which I think helped because she was not panting profusely or shaking, which she usually does.

We arrived at Courtney’s before 10:30.  Both her cats retreated to the upstairs.  Squeaky, the braver of the two, peeking around the wall of the stairs, became bolder and then later, kind of put Maggie in her place.


We hung out at Courtney's for a while, trying to decide on lunch and when to go to Dan and Val’s.  We watched as Squeaky was getting used to the idea of a dog in his house.  Courtney showed us some cat tricks with Squeaky.  Maggie had been instructed to watch from her bed.  I think she was more interested in the treats than the cat.

We got to Dan and Val's by 1:00 and he and Tango greeted us out on the drive.  I wanted the dogs to get re-acquainted before we went inside. 


Once inside with Maggie and her bed, the dogs eventually settled down there.  The festivities soon began, with a little bit of beer drinking and lots of snacking as food prep for an early dinner was underway.  Ricardo did his awesome grilling as usual.

At some point before dinner, Joe and I were presented with a big surprise.

I had no idea what was in the gift box and when I saw the cute little onesie, it wasn’t until I read Grandma and Grandpa April 2021 that it clicked.  It was a surprise for Courtney too, who was watching from beside me.  This (video) captures the magical, surprise moment.  

Dan and Val are due to have this baby the same month as his and Joe's birthday.  It is very exciting news, and a whole new feeling washed over me.  I can’t really explain it... miraculous, humbling, gratifying, wonderful... a whole new perspective on life.


Daniel and Valencia are going to be such wonderful parents!

We all ate quite well, except maybe Val who is still experiencing some sickness from early pregnancy.  She jokingly commented that this is going to be an American baby because she can no longer tolerate spicy food, heavy food, and all that good cuisine she loves so much.

We went for a short walk after dinner for the dogs, and to look at Halloween decorations.  I wanted to see the house with the eyes I had remembered from the year before.  Yep, there it was, and I think the eyes are still quite creepy on this house. 





Then we settled in to Dan and Val's very cozy, plush, sectional up in their game room.  We watched the new (2020) movie, Mulan.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Joe, Courtney, Maggie, and I arrived back at Courtney's about 8:30.  There was more chatting and reflection of the day, as we sat in our jammies in front of a cozy, warm fire.  I thought about the miracle unfolding and developing within Valencia.  It wasn’t until 10 pm that I was tired enough to sleep.

Sunday 10/25 - Up earlier than Joe and Courtney, I enjoyed my tea and some computer time.  Once Joe and Courtney were up, we made decisions about lunch and then got busy with some cleaning while also just hanging out.  Joe and Courtney made a trip to the store for groceries and furnace filters and to pick up carry out hibachi grill for lunch.  I stayed home to supervise cats and dog, do a little weeding, and finish up the vacuuming. 

Lunch was quite tasty and I made a pig of myself like I had the night before at Dan and Val’s.  Alas, we needed to hit the road for home.  After walking the dog and packing up the car we said our goodbyes and headed home to Fairfield Glade.

While motoring down the road, Joe and I discussed and reflected on our lives, and our children.  I think I can say for him as well as myself, we are both very blessed, proud, and sometimes concerned parents.  Knowing I’m going to become a grandmother has totally changed my outlook on living, hope for the future, and view of life.


It is always good to get home.  The cats were glad to see us.  Babe on the porch playing around the cat tent.

 
Everything was unloaded, unpacked, and put away.  I decided to hang this cute little onesie on our bedroom wall for now.

Not having exercised for two days, after the pets were fed, I went on a long (almost two hour) walk with Maggie.  We went up the section of Westchester that is still closed, and then down Peavine which is now paved.  I actually continued with the dog all the way down Peavine (on the sidewalk) going west towards Food City, until I got way beyond Weigel's.  It was 7pm and pitch dark when we arrived home. 

Monday 10/26 - I had taken this photo of our neighbor's pretty red maple at the corner of Snead and Lakeview on our walk the night before.  I felt like it should be a day of rest since we were on the go much of the day Sunday.

Becoming a grandmother was starting to sink in.  A few times during the day I was called Granny and Grandma.  LOL  Love my friends.

It took all my motivation to get me to the gym and I had a slow-moving, easy workout.  But it was better than nothing.

I had a great big salad (left over from the weekend) for lunch and then went to the barn.

I did lots of ground work with Amiga, getting her ready for a trailer loading lesson the following day.  I didn't want any surprises to her or from her.


We worked in the pony pen and I used a bag on a stick which she was very reactive to.  So then I tried tying a bright cloth to it instead and she didn't really react at all.  I was trying to simulate a flag that Christie might be using in the trailering lesson.

I had tied white strips to the wire fence that is only about 25 to 30 feet behind the trailer.  Then I walked Amiga back there to see it.  (I ride her behind and around the trailers regularly.)   She had part of her grain for 'dinner' and then I rode bareback for a bit.  We went in the arena across the street and around the gardens.  On the way back, I let her graze behind the trailer.

 
I worked on this blog post in the evening since I had gotten behind over the weekend.

 

This photo, taken 10/26 here in the Glade by Dan Oakleaf, shows how beautiful the trees were.

Tuesday 10/27 - The day of reckoning, the moment of truth, would there be any big surprises with the trailer lesson after lunch?  It had been over a year since I had Amiga on the trailer, and I had no idea what to expect.  This Facebook photo gave many of us a laugh last week.  It is soooo Amiga and I.  I hired Christie to work with us so we could get started on trailer loading, on the right foot so to speak.

My two hours at the gym were very productive, funneling my nervous energy into my workout.  I increased some reps or weights on many of the machines and was feeling really strong for a change.  I did skip my stretch at the end due to time.


I had an hour to change, eat lunch, walk the dog, and head back out the door to go to the barn for the trailer lesson.

I know I talked about burs last week, but had to included this photo I took while walking the mare pasture to get Amiga.  These burs were larger than golf balls! 

 
I got Amiga cleaned up, fly sprayed, and put on her leg wraps, not knowing how hard we would have to drive her to get her to load.  Then I did more ground work out in the pony pen.  

 
I let Amiga chill for fifteen minutes and I tried to do the same thing.  When Christie arrived at 2:00, we chatted, talked loading strategy, and then walked Amiga down to the trailer. 
 

When we got to the back of the trailer, I couldn't believe my eyes.  Amiga walked calmly, right onto the trailer, without hesitation.  (I guess all the work from 1½ years ago stuck with her.)  However, she only stood on the trailer several seconds before deciding to back off.  But, surprise, surprise... she came off relatively slowly, not shooting out as usual.  Our lesson was not over yet.  Christie worked with Amiga until my little mare was stepping slowly, and only when asked, to back off and get back on the trailer.  Sometimes it was just one step back and then one step forward, as Christie got Amiga to move one foot at a time, in the correct direction, when asked.

Christie then had me first load Cash so I could get the hang of loading a very cooperative horse, and boost my confidence.  Cash gets on and backs off so slowly.  Then it was time for me to work with Amiga.  She did great and did not frighten me with crazed behavior at all.  Jan and Patty hung out for part of the time, watching us.

Once we started working with Amiga putting the butt bar up, she wanted to rush back off the trailer.  She slammed into it several times. 

Christie, in her very relaxed, calm manner, worked with Amiga on this butt bar issue for quite awhile until Amiga decided to relax and listen.  She had her jaw clenched so tight and had stopped eating hay, so we offered grain, which did the trick.  It got Amiga chewing and thinking... which then resulted in her listening and not overreacting. 

Our trailer loading session ended on a good note, and much sooner than I had expected it would.  I need to keep visualizing this in a positive way, rather than fearing what could go wrong.

I did a little leaf removal from the creek down back but was thankful it got dark and I had to quit after an hour.  I was physically and mentally ready to call it a day.

Wednesday 10/28 - The rain started up before midnight and kept it up all night and all day.  There were very few breaks in the rain, in which to walk the dog.

The window salesman came at 10 am and we committed to buying eight windows for the living room wall (made the down payment).  They will not start installation until January.  Something else I am now dreading.

Joe helped me saw this tire apart.  Then I made a little reinforcing wooden stick and painted it. 

Joe and I went to the gym together.  I did the elliptical for 40 minutes and then stretched.  Then we hit the Kroger pharmacy in the Village Mall for our vaccine appointments.  Joe got his flu shot and I got the second of my shingles shot.  I was dreading feeling bad like I had after the first shot eleven weeks ago.

Once home, Joe helped me hang the tire on the wall.  This IS the LAST of the shelving, climbing apparatus I will be installing.  The cattery / sun room is complete.

Not surprising, we had some difficulties getting the tire up.  I was trying to keep it looking round.  We had to reset a few screws, but we got the tire hung.  The wooden stick supports the top of the tire (so it doesn't bend downward) if the cats decide to climb up on top of it. 

Joe was off to play poker.  I painted the five washers and screw heads (holding the tire up) black so they would blend in with the tire.  I also painted the two boo boo screw holes in the wall gray.  Once all tools were put away, and dinner was had by the pets and I, I sat out here at my computer and watched to see what the cats would do.  There was not much interest in the tire.  Whether the shelves are used or not, I consider them wall art.  LOL

I went to bed at 8:30, starting to feel crummy as the vaccine was recognized and attacked by my immune system.  The injection site at my arm hurt and my whole body was starting to ache. 

Thursday 10/29 - Here is a look in natural light, at the last tire added to the far right on the wall.


I questioned whether the two shingles shots were worth it, I was feeling so bad.  I was sick with flu like symptoms for two days the first time, so it was no big surprise to feel bad again.  I didn't recall the nausea, dizziness, and horrible headache the first time.  But like before, was hit with chills, fever, and aches all over, all night long.

I woke up at 5 AM, took another Tylenol and had a few crackers, and went back to bed.

My day started at 7 AM, and consisted of time at my computer, taking two naps back in bed, lying on the couch reading and napping, lying on the porch swing reading and napping, and just wishing I would start feeling better.

It was a very rainy morning.

It stopped raining earlier than predicted and ended up being a pretty afternoon.  But I never left the house except to check the rain gauge.  We had gotten six inches.


This is a view out my sun room windows from where I was laying on the couch.

The cats interfere with my reading as they try to get on my lap. 


I made cream of wheat for Joe and I.  He was a little under the weather because of his flu shot and it was the comfort food we wanted.  I went to bed early.

Friday 10/30 - When I got up at 5:30, I was pleasantly surprised to be feeling so much better.  I couldn’t believe it stayed dark until nearly 7am.  The temperature had dropped 30 degrees so I dug out a warmer coat to walk the dog.

I had a very productive workout at the gym for two hours.

After a big hearty salad for a late lunch, I bundled up and went to the barn.  The 'boys' had just come in for their grain.  Here is a photo of Zorro chowing down.  Boz and Chester were seeking shelter from the cold, napping in the hay.

I got the trailer ready for more loading practice, and once Amiga came in and had ⅓ of her grain, I cleaned her up and put on her leg wraps, and did a little ground work before leading her to the trailer. 
The trailer loading didn't go as well as I had hoped.  Amiga went right in, following me, but then started backing out right away.  I followed her and she went all the way out.  I proceeded, several times, to try to get her to stay on the trailer and eat hay but she was not interested in the hay and kept backing right off. 

I was trying not to hold Amiga back when she tried backing off the trailer, but wanted her to get the idea that I didn’t want her backing off.   I did start to get a little frustrated and then, at one point Amiga got away from me when backing off the trailer and I didn't catch her until almost back to the barn.  So I took her in, saddled her up, and rode her for a while.  I was planning to ride a little anyway and it seemed like a good time.  If she didn't want to do trailer loading, she could take me for a ride.

Scrappy and Kitty (the darker barn cat) wanting to be fed.

Once un-tacked, I took Amiga back out to the trailer.  I had taken the breast bar down and had the grain bucket, so things went much better, I think because I could stay in closer contact with her and she was enjoying the grain.  Amiga was willing to stand there and eat.  But most of the time when I asked her to step back with the intention of one step back one step forward, like Christie had me doing, Amiga just wanted to back most of the way off, or all of the way off the trailer.  I was at least able to quit on a positive note. 
The almost full moon was rising while I was finishing up in the barn and tack room.

Burr Season

I am not ready for these colder months.  Even when it is not that cold, I am cold.
Why do we feel so much colder in the fall at the same temperature than in the spring?
Kevin Joy (a content editor for Michigan Health Lab) says, "When seasons change, our bodies know to react. But we can perceive the same thermometer reading differently at various times throughout the year."

“When you’re exposed to a lot of heat outside, basically there’s an adaption going on that your body will get used to and lower the threshold at which you start to cool off,” says Laure Rittié, Ph.D., a research assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Michigan.
"After several months spent in the hot summer sun, that first colder-than-normal encounter will shock the system a bit because a person has developed a tolerance for heat."
Whether the mercury is falling or on the rise, the process of acclimation usually takes a person 10 to 20 days to adjust to a new season. Rittié says.

Saturday 10/17 - It was 30° out when I walked Maggie at 6am.  An hour later, the seven doe down back did not look cold, just hungry.  Their coats have darken (and surely thickened) as they adjust to the fall season.

It was a lazy, relaxed, time-wasting morning.  I was trying to get front head shots of my cats to compare with Britney and Jean's (Fran and Mae) cats.  But was not having great luck (especially trying to capture their eye color).  They move so much, only holding still when sleeping or in a trance watching something.  But I break the trance when getting in front of them with my phone camera.

Stevie on the left and Mama Styx on the right.
Once I get the photos I want, I will post them.

My forehead temperature was 94.4 when I got to the gym.  Burr, I told the attendant I was cold.  After a two hour workout and a hearty lunch, I headed to the barn.  What is up with Zorro's mane?  All our horses are coming in (covered at times).  It is burr season.  Look at all the different types of burs!

Amiga and I were ready to ride about the same time as Patty, so we met up at the first bean field and then followed Patty and Zorro through the Ghost Town and to the larger field.

It was absolutely gorgeous riding weather.

We got some photos of each other.  Notice we are wearing our 'don't shoot me' orange.  Lately we have been hearing gun shots a little too close for comfort.

Patty headed back on Zorro, since he is not used to (conditioned to) going out for very long.  Amiga was quite up-set that we weren't heading back to the barn with them.

But soon, we saw the trail ride (way off in the distance) coming under the power lines.  We joined up with them at the little bean field and basically followed them (at a long distance) back to the barn.

Joe had picked up soup and sandwiches for us for dinner and we ate fairly early.  That gave me extra time to work (and play) here at my computer, with my feline friends near by.

 
Sunday 10/18 - My whole day was spent at Christie Riek's for a Barb Gerbitz Natural Horsemanship clinic that Jan, Babs, and I were auditing.  I had had Amiga in a similar clinic back in 2017, and needed to review training tips.  I ended up picking up several new ideas as well.

It was a cold morning with little sunshine and a strong wind blowing.  I sat wearing my coat, hat, and gloves, and wrapped in a blanket.  There were nine riders and they did two, three hour sessions, with an hour lunch break in between. 

Time was spent on the ground each session with halter work, and then in the saddle.

Even though I had not exerted myself or accomplished anything all day, I came home feeling quite tired.  I think being out in the cool air all day wore me out.

Monday 10/19 - The weekend had been quite cold, but it actually started warming up on Monday, and was unsusally balmy (for fall) the rest of the week.  A few days it was actually warmer outside than in the house, and until I stepped outside, I didn't realize how warm it was.

Mama Styx at the food dish I keep in the sun room.

I was still trying to get face shot photos of my cats.  Babe is the most difficult to capture because she is constantly on the move and rather shy.  By the time I click the camera when she is looking at me, she has diverted her eyes.


I finished my book, returned it, and picked out two new ones.  My two hour workout at the gym was finally getting easier, and I was able to increase the weights or the reps on several of the machines.


Jan had given me her cat tower she no longer needed.  When I brought it into the house, all the critters were quite curious.

I pulled the cat tower out of the bag, and realized it needed cleaning up.  It was stained and kind of stinky.  So I took it out front and scrubbed it good with carpet cleaner to remove stains and deodorize it.  I left it sitting in the sun.


I went to the barn for my (what has become almost daily) ride.  I got photos of one culprit plant (evident during burr season) which looks to have two different kinds of burs.  Amiga was walking away from me at the time.  She isn't always real willing to be caught.  LOL

I decided to ride bareback one more day because Amiga's saddle sore was looking so much better and I didn't want to regress the healing process.


I rode in the little arena across the street, working on several things I had seen at the clinic.  I was very pleased with Amiga's responsiveness.  We later rode in a few of the fields, did a lot of walking and gaiting, and even two short canters.

A new horse (Breeze) had come into the barn just before I rode out on Amiga.  Here she is looking out her stall (in isolation) as I left.

I have been trying to cut back on the popcorn,  but had some for dinner, after two nights off.

 

Tuesday 10/20 - Another cute feline face.  Monita sitting by the refrigerator hoping for some food.

It was overcast most of the day, but fairly warm, and got sunny and hot by mid afternoon.


I went to the gym for the second day in a row, and accomplished more than I expected.  I had gone an hour earlier than usual, and it was still quite empty. 

I tried to do extra protein at lunch and then dinked around in the yard with bird feeders, picking up sticks, and watering flowers and new grass seed. 



I met Jan at the barn at 2:30.  This time I saddled up Amiga because we were going to do some cantering.  Pat lent me a felt cover for my girth, and after two hours of riding, Amiga's saddle sores were still okay.   Yay!

Jan riding out of the creek and up the hill.

 

We rode across the road to the winter pasture, where we did several passes up different parts of the fields, checking the footing first and then trotting or cantering.  We rode away from each other, towards each other, passed each other at different speeds, and were out of sight from each other a few times.  Amiga was being difficult when she couldn't see Cash, or we were going away from him, or he was 'leaving' us.  At faster speeds she was quite the handful.

I did finally get a nice slow canter while following Cash who was doing the same thing.



It was a quiet evening at home, except for the political racket Joe was listening to in his Mancave.  I have not been subjecting myself to all the negative crap both sides have been slinging at each other, which basically means watching no news coverage.

 

Mama Styx (left) and Stevie (right) check out the dog bed mattresses that are missing their covers.

I did some weed whacking down back and along the creek to knock down some of the four foot high growth.  Not surprisingly, I did unintentionally pick up some burs in the process.

I had cut out the center part of our old wheelbarrow tire and used it to replace the other tire I had on the floor.  I have plans to mount the other tire on the wall.

Monita then proceeded to do her 'pole' dance on the pallet wall.

 
I met some of the ladies from the pool out at Lake Dartmoor for their beach day.  Joe came with me and laid on the beach.  I sat and chatted with the girls (at a safe distance).  The sun was actually too hot at times.


By 2pm Joe and I were headed to the barn to go work on the Holly Trail.

Maggie helping clear sticks.  Actually I would throw sticks off the trail and she would retrieve them.  I had to convince her to play with them at the side of the trail.


I raked leaves, sticks, and rocks off the trail and Joe cut stumps out (using Jan's sawsall).  After about 90 minutes, he and Maggie headed back to the SUV.

I continued walking the Holly Trail towards the power lines and then took the livery trail towards the barn.  I trimmed back brush and removed larger rocks as I went.  Jan rode by to check out our work, and later rode back past again.

Joe and I enjoyed dinner at Stonehenge, treating ourselves after an afternoon of hard work.

Thursday 10/22 - At 8am, Maggie was sitting on the deck bench while an insurance contractor looked to see where the issues with our water damage are coming from.  He is the forth guy (a different contractor, window replacement company, and insurance claim water inspector) in the past ten days that has been here.  He, like the other three, is stumped.  There's just no way to know for sure until we start tearing into the wall.

I moved the 'new' cat tower onto the porch to let the girls check it out and see how they reacted to it.  They explored it for a long time, sometimes getting a little combative (video), but all-in-all it went very well.  I wanted to be sure any old smells remaining from Jan's cats wouldn't trigger fighting or 'marking' by my cats. 






Here is another series of photos I had taken before I took the video.  Stevie is on the top, Mama Styx in the bottom hole, and Babe exploring.  In the last photo, Monita arrived on the scene.

Eventually the cats settled in, in various places on the porch and then Maggie joined the scene.

I went to the barn before noon to join Shirley, Patty, Judy, Jan, Carol, and Michelle for lunch (we each brought our own food).  We used the time to visit and chat.  We also gave Shirley her memorial gift for Gov.

It was another absolutely beautiful day, getting up into the mid 70s.  Our visit lasted a few hours and then I went to get Amiga for another ride.  Almost every day she comes in with a new hairdo because of how the burs have tangled her mane. 


I tried a different girth cover that Pat had given me, and rode out to check out the Holly Trail.  I had difficulties getting Amiga to go down the second part of the hill to the creek, and had to finally get off and lead her part way down.  Once to the creek, I decided we needed to do it again.  We went all the way back up to the top of the hill and turned around to go down again.  Amiga got 'stuck' at the same place the second time and I had to keep pushing her to go, with me still in the saddle.  The footing on the hill was much better.

I also rode in the fields by the ghost town, and had a great canter (well it was actually a fast gallop - I can't help myself, I love the speed) down the length of the large field. 

Zorro coming up to see us at the back gate.

When I untackd at the end of the ride, Amiga's saddle sore had started bleeding again.  Shoot.  She was also very sweaty, so I hosed her off.  Then I let her out in the dry lot where Scout spends his days.  She enjoyed a good roll (video).  The photos below are before she got dirty. 


I talked with Courtney at dinner time, and texted Val to plan for this coming weekend.

This photo and this quote were posted on Facebook by Rhonda Towe Reyes the day before.

"Riding horses is in the blood. It is a passion we are born with. No one can really understand this passion but other horse people. Even when life events temporarily take us away from riding, the passion is still there.  And, when we can, we will get back in with horses again. Im not sure who this little girl is in the photo, but she lives inside all of us. The love of a large animal... the power we feel under the saddle, the wind in our hair, the adventure in our spirit!  This passion is a gift from God."    How true for me.

Friday 10/23 - My morning view, once the sun finally came up, which doesn't happen until nearly 7am.  The fall colors have really progressed.


I gathered up stuff for our weekend trip to Nashville and then went to the gym for two hours.  My workouts are progressing nicely. 


After lunch I followed Joe to town to drop off his scooter.  We shopped (primarily at Walmart) and were home with everything unpacked and stowed away by 3:30.

The barn was next on my to do list.  I wanted to check Amiga's saddle sore and see if her legs were sore after the hill work the day before.  She seemed fine in all regards. 


I rode Amiga bareback around the barnyard fields, garden plots, and arena.  She handled beautifully during our whole ride, only getting strong willed once I had returned to the barn.  To get a photo of me on my horse, I had to take a picture of our shadow. 

Chester and Boz were with us when we rode out to the power lines and back (video).  Poor Chester is really showing his age.  He has slowed way down and is sore most of the time. 


The usual evening chores were accompanied by packing and cleaning veggies to take to Nashville. 
Rain moved into the area overnight and burr season has returned.